Jirga demands IDPs return to cleared areas

PESHAWAR - Tribal elders of North Waziristan Agency demanded of the government to repatriate the displaced families to their respective hometowns, which the security forces declared clear of militants. This demand was made in a traditional “Grand Tribal Jirga” of the displaced tribesmen held here at Bagh-i-Naran, Peshawar on Saturday. The jirga was held under the auspices of tribal elders Malik Ahmad Saeed, Malik Abdul Jabbar, Malik Muhammad Sher, Malik Habibullah and Malik Gul Habib. The jirga was also attended by the elders of Dawar and Wadag clans of Wazir tribe as well as notables of Mehsud tribe. The jirga demanded of the government not to disburse financial aid among the affected families through political administration and introduce a fair method for distribution of aid among the IDPs. Addressing the jirga, tribal elders urged the government to initiate reconstruction of the demolished and partially damaged houses and business centres of the tribesmen in the already declared clear areas of NWA. They said that government should take all necessary steps to ensure repatriation of the displaced tribal families by making proper transportation arrangements.Elders of Dawar and Wardag clans of Wazir tribes demanded that their homes, shops and other properties in Mirali and Miramshah destroyed in the ongoing military operation should be reconstructed. “The government claims that Miramshah and Mir Ali are cleared of militants so it must take prompt steps to rehabilitate the displaced families in these areas and extend financial aid for reconstruction of their damaged houses and other properties,” they added.ALL-OUT HELP TO BE EXTENDED TO IDPS: IBRAHIMStaff Reporter from Bannu adds: Prof Ibrahim Khan, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, visited a camp established for the internally displaced persons of North Waziristan Agency at Azad Mandi area of FR Bannu and reviewed arrangements to facilitate IDPs.Al-Khidmat Foundation Disaster Management Head, Asmatullah Qureshi, was also present on the occasion.During his address to the displaced families, Prof Ibrahim said that IDPs of North Waziristan would not be left in the lurch. “The tribal people have rendered matchless sacrifices for the cause of the country. They are defenders of the country’s frontiers and now every kind of help would be extended to them in hard times,” he vowed. He said that the activists of Al-Khidmat Foundation and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) would continue their efforts till rehabilitation of all displaced people in their respective areas. He said that all resources would be utilised to provide home-like environment in the government-established camps. He also distributed Eid gifts among the IDPs and reviewed facilities of school, fun land and medical centre.